Automatic heading device



s- 6,1935. A. BOYNTON 2,010,135

AUTOMATIC HEADING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 wig,

1 g 2 Fi t -8 s Alexanderfloyn'ton 3mm 1 I am AUTOMATIC HEADING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ail 12cm filxander B 0 yo; fo n EAL-m flaw Patented Aug. 6, 1935 AUTOMATIC HEADING DEVICE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Chas. A. Beatty, San Antonio, Tex.

Application October 14, 1932, Serial No. 637,710 10 Claims. (Cl. 103-234.)

My invention relates to devices for raising liquid from wells and more particularly to those in which air or other gaseous fluid is employed as a pressure medium to aerate and lift the fluid from the well by the expulsion of liquid slugs therefrom.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective device for admitting into the eduction tube of a well a slug or column of liquid of a predetermined weight or length, and to then seal off the liquid intake until the charge already admitted has been lifted from the well. I desire to provide means to automatically prevent the admission to the eduction tube of more than the predetermined amount which is to be discharged at one time. It is also an object to provide means whereby the intake opening for the liquid may be operated to open and close abruptly so as to prevent wear and also to economize time in the operation of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means to prevent the entrance of liquid to the pressure fluid inlet pipe while the same is being introduced into the well or while the eduction tube is removed from the Well for examination or repair. I desire to provide means to automatically close the lower end of the, pressure tube when the eduction tube is raised.

The invention resides particularly in the details of construction whereby the above objects are accomplished and the adjustment of the apparatus provided for, and in the method weighing each slug and providing that each slug shall be of uniform weight or length.

With reference to the drawings herewith, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the upper end of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal sectional View through the well casing and the tubing employed therewith taken at a level below that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a continuation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 on the lower side thereof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the automatic valve operating device.

Fig. 5 is a transversesection on the plane 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar transverse section on the plane 66 of Fig. 4. 7

Figs. 7 and 8 are central vertical section and bottom plan view respectively of the ball cage other soft metal or hard packing material.

disclosed in Fig. 4, Fig. '7 being taken on the plane 1-! of Fig. 8. I

Figs. 9, and 10 are top plan and side elevational views respectively of the ball rider employed in connection with said ball cage.

Fig. 11 is an assembly view, partly in section, of the device as it is positioned in the well.

I contemplate employing fluid lift devices in connection with the usual well equipment, including a casing I, which is ordinarily employed in retaining the walls of the well. At the upper end of the casing I show a casing head 2, having a plurality of lateral ports therein, one of which is shownas being connected with the gas line 3 and the other closed by a bull plug 4. The upper end of the casing head is threaded exteriorly to recei e a cap member 5. The interior of the casing head is formed with a seat at 6 to form a seal with a radial plate 1 upon the pressure tube 8 by means of a seal of lead or other soft metal or tight textured fabric 9 fitting between said plate and said seat:

The plate I is secured rigidly to the outer periphery of the pressure tube by welding or similar means shown at H), but parts 1- and I4 may be cast in one piece and screwed on to the pressure tubing. On the'upper side of the plate is an annular groove or recess within which is poured or otherwise placed a sealing ring ll of lead or ring of sealing material is engaged by a downwardly extending flange l2 upon the cap memher 5. It will be noted therefore that when the cap member 5 is screwed down upon'the casing head the flange I! will engage the seal H upon the plate I and force said plate rigidly down to seal with the lead gasket 9 in the casing head. Furthermore, the lower rim of the flange I2 is adapted to engage against the lead seal II and form a further seal at that point. The weight of the tubing assists in compressing the gasket 9, thereby producing a complete seal off at that point with little or no assistance being required from theflange'lZ or seal l l. Such packing cannot be made of any but soft alloys wholly lacking in the spring element which I supply as a separate part.

The well is equipped with the outer tube 8, which I call the pressure tube, serving as an inlet for the pressure fluid, such as air under pressure, which is delivered to the pressure tube through the lateral line l3. The pressure tube is formed with a coupling [4 thereon which is adapted to contact with the upper sealing plate I and more effectively support the pressure tube. Above the Thisbox or sealing pose ofproviding additional sealing means, if the lower end I tail in Fig. 4.

gasket l B should not seal tight.

The air or gas which is employed as a lifting medium passes downwardly into the well through I the passage it between the pressure tube and the eduction tube. Adjacent the lower end thereof the pressure tube is engaged within a swaged coupling member 2t. Said coupling is reduced in diameter downwardly and provided with an inner seat 2i upon which thelower end of the'eduction tube may rest in operation. A bottom seal 22, comprising a ring of compressible material such as lead, or other similar or suitable material, is fitted about the eduction tube within a recess therein and engages the seat to form a seal closing the passage of pressure fluid beyond this point.

The pressure tube, closed at the lower end, as will be described, may be, introduced into the well, and thereafter the eduction tube may be inserted, downwardly therethrough.

Below the coupling 2&3 is secured a length of tubing 23, which is slotted, as shown at 25, to allow the inlet thereto of liquid from the well. This tube forms a cage for a check valve 25. The of the tube is closed by a plug 26, which supports a spiral spring 2i, upon which is ently supported a valve retaining member 28. The upper end of the said member is concaved to receive the ball valve 25, which is held resiliently upward by means of said spring and support.

The lower end of the eduction tube above the valve is rounded at its lower end to form a seat at 29 against which the ball valve may contact. Above the lower end, the eduction tube is slotted at till to allow the entrance thereto of liquid when said tube is projected below the coupling it). When the tube is raised upwardly to obscure the slotted openings 3b within the coupling, theball valve may seat against an inner ring 3!? at the lower end of the coupling 2b and seal against the enltjrance of liquid upwardly into the pressure tu e.

The eduction tube is formed, at a point spaced somewhat above the lower end, with an airlintake nipple tiihavingllateral openings 34 therein for the admission of air or gas below the slug of liquid in the tube. Below the air intake I have shown a check valve 35, which may be of any preferred construction. This valve is housed within a cage and the valve seat 38 is supported bya check valve swage 3?, which is fitted tightly within the eduction tube.

Below the check valve is my control device whereby the inlet of liquid to the eduction. tube is regulated. This device is housed within the housingdd as shown in Figs.2 and 3, and in de- The automatic valve operating means is located at the lower end of the eduction tube slightly above the seal 22 formed with the coupling 26!. The interior of the tube section is threaded to receive a valve seat member 69 which has an axial passage ll therethrough for the entering liquid. This passage has flared ends thereto, the upper end it forming a seat for the valve member The valve operating device is housed within a cylindrical tube-or barrel Ml closed at its upper a seal about the I resili- 63 is mounted thereon hearing at aoi ise end by an adjusting plug 35 and open on its lower end, except for a transverse bar 16 forming a carrier for the valve. This bar is threaded centrally to receive the shank ll upon the valve 33. With reference particularly to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the transverse carrier bar 16 is slidable within a diametrical slot 58 formed in an upwardly projecting sleeve 19 upon the valve seat member 60, called the base holder.

The sleeve upon said valve seat is formed to telescope within the housing 3 3 and forms an anchor'for the bottom end connection 50 engaging at its upper end with the multiple diaphragm or bellows. Thus the connecting member 50 is anchored firmly to the valve seat member ll) by being threaded at 59 within the slotted sleeve or upper end of the base holder 49.

The connecting member 59 is a tubular member threaded on its interior and closed at its lower endby a p1ug'52 which must make an abso lute seal at that end of said member to prevent escape of any fluid whatever. Its "upper end is formed with an interior shoulder at 53 to engage wlth the lower end of the bellows shaped diaphragm 56, it being understood that said connecting member and said diaphragm are secured together by a bond of leak proof solder or welding material 55.

The upper end of the bellows member is likewise soldered at 53 to a connecting ring 571. Said ring has an interior threaded engagement with a head 58 upon the carrier shat t I Said head extends over the upper end of the ring 57 and may be secured rigidly thereto by means of a bond of solder or welding 68. Thus there is a hermetical seal at the upper end as well as at the lower end of said bellows member. There is a small duciror passage El extending upwardly and laterallyin the head to provide a vent from the interior of the diaphragm in its assembly as will belater noted.

The head 5&3 is secured to the adjacent plug 55 previously mentioned, by means of a lock screw 62 which is extended axially downwardly through said plug and screws within the upper end of said head 58. This lock screw also acts as a swivel connection between the head 58 and the adjusting plug, and when said screw is loosened the plug may be rotated to adjust the same vertically within the housing 3 3 in an obvious manner. I

The bellows member 55 is a multiple diamay be or" a plurality of layers of metal forming a wall of sufiicient strength and resiliency to withstand particular pressures and uses to which it is subjected. Its corrugations may be ring shaped or may thereof to the other, either form or? bellows diephragm being contemplated in my invention.

Within the bellows the carrier shaft. 555 extends axially from end to end thereof and a coil spring its upper end against the head 5d, and at its 10 er end against the upper end of the connecting member to which the bellows is secured. Said spring is under compression and tends to hold the bellows member in a predetermined elongated position.

This bellows member is adapted to be attested by fluid pressures exerted against the outer walls thereof and may be contracted longitudinally by increases of pressure. When said pressures are decreased, however, a spring will again elongate the bellows member. In assembling the bellows in position T contemplate filling the inextend in a spiral from one end contracted longitudinally after the glycerine has been placed therein to the maximum extent to which it will be contracted in use. The excess 'glycerine will find avent through the passage GI, and when the bellows is again released, air will occupy the position of the excess glycerine which was discharged. The function of the glycerine or other liquid is to prevent undue collapse of the walls of the bellows diaphragm and to resist pressures in excess of those ordinarily encountered.

The connecting member 50 previously referred to, houses a, latching device employed in connection with my valve. The lower end of the shaft 59 is extended downwardly into said connecting member. I provide a ball cage 65, the construction of which is best seen in Fig. 7. It has a vertical opening 66 therethrough and it is slotted upwardly from its lower end in order to provide four slots 61 which terminate at their upper ends in a radial opening 68 of somewhat larger diameter than the balls 69 which are to be seated therein. Said cage cooperates with a ball rider it shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Said rider is made up of a lower ring, the opening therethrough adapted to fit closely with the extension "H upon the latching shaft, and it has four upwardly extending arms E2, the upper ends of which are beveled downwardly and inwardly at it to engage against the balls 89. Said arms l2 extend into the slots Bl in the ball cage; and said carrier and said cage are thus interlocked against relative rotation. The ball rider is held resiliently upward against the balls so as to move them inwardly by means of a spring 14, bearing at its lower end against the closure plug 52. Above the ball cage the connecting member is formed with an inwardly extending flange which fits closely about the extension H upon the latching shaft. There are passages 16 longitudinally through the flange to allow the passage of the glycerine into or out of the bellows around the latching device.

There are also longitudinal passages 6'! in said 'ball cage and E2 in said ball rider for the same purpose. The balls are slightly larger than the reduced inner ends of the radial openings 68 to prevent release of said balls when the shaft extension is removed.

In assembling this device, the parts are assembled as shown, the shaft extending downwardly through the ball cage. The parts are then adjusted to determine the latching position of the device and the height of the balls relative to the latching shaft or arm. The shaft extension H is then withdrawn and is machined to form an approximately spherical portion ll thereon which provides latching. recesses 18 above and 19 below the straight surface of the same to receive the balls 69. This latching device enables me to operate the liquid inlet valve abruptly. Thus, pressures tending to collapse the diaphragm and force the latch shaft downwardly will be resisted by the balls until the pressure is great enough to move the spherical portion 11 past the balls after which the balls will engage in the upper recess 18, and hold the parts in that position with the valve 43 closed. By operating the valve abruptly in this manner, the wear of the valve and the valve seat when closing or unclosing will be greatly reduced due to the fact that the sudden closing will greatly reduce the passage of abrasive material between the valve and the seat during the operation.

During the operation of my device the parts will be assembled in the well practically as shown in the drawings. The check valve 25 will be in closed position, while going into the well, to' prevent the entrance of liquid therethru so that when the device is ready to operate there will be no head of liquid in the pressure tube to be depressed by the operating air or gas under pressure. The eduction tube will then be lowered into the seat 2| and the projecting end 29 will open the valve 25 to allow entrance of the liquid; as will be observed from Fig. 3. The liquid will rise upwardly past the open inlet valve 43 and into the eduction tube. When the height of the liquid in the tube has reached a predetermined point, the pressure of the head of liquid against the diaphragm will be suflicient to collapse the same to force the latching shaft downwardly past the balls 69 and move the housing 44 and the valve 43 downwardly to close the opening 42 and prevent the entrance of more liquid. Air or gas under pressure will then be introduced down the pressure tubing through the space l9 so that it may enter through the openings 34 in the eduction tube and elevate the slug of liquid above the same. The discharge of the air into the well to move the slug of liquid upwardly must preferably be timed so as to allow the entrance'of the air only after the liquid inlet has been closed. This maybe done by automatic .means now known or it may be done manually as preferred.

The check valve 35 is to prevent the exertion of the pressure of the air downwardly upon the producing formation of the well when by chance the liquid inlet valve has not closed as the air is admitted. Ordinarily the check valve will not be necessary when the closing of the inlet 4| by the valve 43 is accomplished before air is admit- I ted into the pressure tubing thus to prevent the passage of the air downwardly into the well.

The amount of air or gas and the pressure at which it should be used, will depend upon the size of the flow tubing, the length of the slug, physical properties of the well liquid, and the depth at which the device is installed.

No pressure used in flowing the well ever contacts the producing formation. Only such part of the wells own pressure is used as may be neccessary to force the slug into the tubing; and by adjusting the device to handle short slugs, this pressure may be minimized. As the liquid rises in the flow tubing while the slug is forming, part of its passes out of the flow tubing into the pressure tubing through the air intake holes, and thereby rises to the same level in both flow and pressure tubing. When air is admitted into the pressure tubing this liquid in the pressure tubing is forced back through the air intake holes into the flow tubing. The slug finally formed in the flow tubing and expelled is, therefore, considerably longer than the slug as originally admitted. For example: if the capacity of the flow tubing andthe capacity of the annular space between the flow tubing and the pressure tubing should be equal, then the well would force into the flow and pressure tubings a slug only one-half as long as the slug that would be expelled. This fact provides that the internal force of the well (its rock pressure) is conserved. Means which thus provides for expelling a slug twice as long as a well will produce is believed to be entirely new.

Provision is made whereby no fluid enters the I after starting.

pressure tubing as it is lowered or run into the well, and the flow tubing may be lowered into and withdrawn from the pressure tubing at will without allowing fluid to enter Were it not for this provision to keep'the pressure tubing dry, great pressure would be required to start a well that heads up to a high level. With this provision the first slug is uniform with all others. Ihe well will, therefore, start on the same pressure that will be required to operate it If the liquid to be lifted is thin or light, and of a character that allows air or gas to break into or through the slug, a different or heavier liquid, semi-liquid, or gelatinous substance may be admitted into the pressure tubing ahead of each discharge of air or gas into the pressure tubing, thereby to provide that such different or heavier liquid, semiliquid, or gelatinous substance will be forced down the pressure tubing and form a piston-like bottom to or under each slug to prevent or minimize such breaking into or through the slug by the air or gas that expels it.

The valve operating device which I have disclosed is sensitive to fluid pressure, and it will be obvious that an increase of pressurejoutside the diaphragm will tend to move the walls of the corrugations toward each other so as to collapse the same longitudinally and operate the valve. However, if pressures become excessive the glycerine within the diaphragm will resist the collapse of the same beyond the maximum travel previously determined. The small charge of air in the bellows will be compressed and the liquid will then practically fill the diaphragm and prevent further collapse and injury to the walls thereof.

To illustrate: If the bellows be filled with glycerine to within one inch of the top, and the spring would compress one inch under 100 pounds per square inch applied externally to the bellows, then there would never be more than 100 pounds difference between the external and internal pressures. If then there should be 10,000 pounds per square inch of external pressure there would be 9,900 pounds of internal pressure, leaving a net force of only 100 pounds per square inch acting externally on the bellows. The bellows wall thus becomes impinged between two fluid forces, the external of which can never exceed the internal by more than 100 pounds regardless of how great the external pressure may be. Hundreds of hydraulic compressions up to 5,000 pounds per square inch administered by me to such a bellows assembly, the bellows having a wall thickness of only .008 inch, has never resulted in the slightest damage to the bellows, nor in any way impaired its operation. Hydraulic pressure in excess of 10,000 pounds per square inch frequently has been administered by me to bellows assemblies, the bellows having a wall thickness of approximately .030 inch, with no resulting damage. It being possible to fabricate bellows with wall thickness greatly in excess of .030 inch, it is apparent that this type of construction will safely withstand the highest pressures to be encountered.

I have thus provided a structure which will operate to deliver a predetermined charge of liquid from the well, and the operation thereof may be practically automatic. My valve operating device will allow admission of only a predetermined weight of liquid which can be handled by the air pressures which are contemplated, and the lifting of the liquid by the contemplated fluid pressures will be assured at all times. The device is simple the pressure tubing.-

.. aoi iss and efiiclent in construction and will function with slight wear.

-What I claim as new is:

1. In a pneumatic well flowing device, a pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, a seal between said tubes adjacent their lower ends, a constantly open pressure fluid inlet to said eduction tube, a normally open inlet valve for liquid at the lower end of said eduction tube, and means responsive to the weight of liquid above said valve to close said valve when a predetermined load of liquid has passed said valve and to hold said valve closed with increased force as leakage past said valve increases the weight of liquid above it.

2. In a pneumatic well flowing device, a pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, a seal between said tubes adjacent their lower ends, a pressure fluid inlet to said eduction tube, a normally open inlet valve for liquid at the lower end of said eduction tube, means responsive to the weight of liquid above said valve to close said valve when a predetermined load of liquid has passed said valve, and releasable means to latch said valve in both open and closed positions.

3. In a device of the character described, a pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, means to seal said eduction tube in said pressure tube adjacent the lower end thereof, a liquid inlet to said eduction tube, a valve in said inlet, means connected with said valve to close the same when a predetermined load of liquid has entered said eduction tube, resilient means to resist said closing of the valve and constantly open inlets to said eduction tube for pressure fluid -to raise said load of liquid upwardly to the surface.

4. In a device of the character described, a pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, means to seal said eduction tube in said pressure tube adjacent the lower end thereof, a liquid inlet to said eduction tube, a valve in said inlet, means responsive to liquid pressure to raise or lower said valve to control the entrance of liquid to said eduction tube, a standing valve in said eduction tube, and inlets for pressure fluid to said eduction tube above said standing valve.

5. In a device of the character described, a I

pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, means to seal said eduction tube in said pressure tube adjacent the lower end thereof, a liquid inlet to said eduction tube, a valve in said inlet, a housing connected with said valve, and a bellows-shaped diaphragm connected with said housing, and responsive to fluid pressures to move said housing and said valve to open and close said valve.

6. In a device of the character described, a pressure tube, an eduction tube spaced inside thereof, means to seal said eduction tube in said pressure tube adjacent the lower end thereof, a liquid inlet to said eduction tube, a valve in said inlet, a diaphragm connected with said valve adapted to be operated by the load of liquid in said eduction tube to open and close said valve and means to latch said valve releasably in both open and closed position.

'7. A heading device including an eduction tube,

an inlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a norerating with said shaft to hold is releasably in adjusted position, and means to introduce gaseous fluid into or under said liquid to raise it upwardly in said tube.

8. A heading device including an eduction tube, aninlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a normally open valve in said inlet, a latch for said valve, means operative by the pressure of fluid in said tube to release said latch and close said valve, and means to introduce gaseous fluid into or under said liquid to raise it upwardly in said tube.

9. A heading device including an eduction tube, an inlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a normally open valve in said inlet, means automatically operating to close said valve when a predetermined load of liquid has entered said tube,

and means in addition to said operating means to accelerate the movement of said valve in both directions, said eduction tube having uncontrolled openings therein through which to introduce gaseous fluid into or under said liquid to raise it upwardly in said tube.

10. A heading device including an eduction tube having inlet openings for pressure fluid, a liquid inlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a valve in said inlet and means including bellows-shaped 1 0 diaphragm and a releasable latching rod axially thereof to move said valve abruptly to closed position when a predetermined load of liquid has entered said inlet, said means operating to open said valve abruptly when said load has been 15 lifted.

ALEXANDER BOYN'I'ON. 

